Apparatus for forming outlets



, Iune'24, 1930. W. J, COOK 1,765,404

APPARATUS FORAFORMING OUTLETS originelll Filed May 1D, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 g. /55 54 Z2 2l 55 55 Inventor Wi l Ham d. COOK Jne 24, 1930. w. J. cooK 1,755,404

APPARATUS FOR FORMING OUTLETS 4 Original Filed May 10, 1928 2 Sheets-@eet 2 58 fo) )553 o\/.

I y/m/e'mor Wuhamd.' COOK' Patented June 24,Y 1930 vWILLIAM JOHN COOK, or BERWYN, ILLrNoIs,

COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N.

OFFICE ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC Y., A OORPORATION'OF NEW YORK lAPPARATUS FOR FORMING OUTLETS -.App1icatonled May 10, 1928, Serial No. 276,538. Renewed January-3, 1930.

This invention -relates to Yapparatus for forming outlets, :and morey particularly to an apparatus for forming voutlets in concrete floor slabs and the like.

5 In the construction of concrete iloors for factories, oflice buildings and the like, it is` the practice in some instances to mold a plurality of ducts or passageways in the concrete for subsequently housing the electrical distributing cables or conductors serving'the various machines or apparatus lol cated ywithin ythe' building. IThese passageways terminate in suitable outlets conveniently situated withA respect to the locations V of the'apparatus or machines to be served.

It has heretofore been the practice in some instances to determine in advance the probable `.location of the various machines and mold the necessary outlets in the concrete zo atr the predetermined loeations'at the time the l floor vis constructed. However, it is sometimes diilicult to determine. previously to the laying of a concrete floor the particularposition each machine will subsequently occupy and it is often necessary to lmove v machines from one location to another after the floor is'completed. Hence, the positions of the floor outlets l'for electrical conductors to servesuch` apparatus cannot readily be determined in advance, and thus the problem isV presented lof. providing outlets `after the Vfloor has` been laid.

The principal objects of the present invention areto providea simple and inexpensive apparatus;Y for forming distributing outlets in concrete floor slabs and the like.

Y In4 accordance `with the Vgeneral features ofthe :invention as embodied in the formation of outlets in concrete liioor slabs having unlined .passageways molded therein containinga previouslyk installed :cablega portion of' the slab above'they Apassageway to `which vaccess is desired is removed andaremovable collapsible form. adapted to en- 45. closethe previously `installed cable is insei-ted therein. An .anchor member .encircling the collapsible formv is positioned ini` place below I -thefupper surface of the concrete andthe remaining space around the form then' lledL-in iwitlififresh.. concrete,

the concrete has settled, the collapsible form is removed, an outlet fixture issecured'to the anchor member, and the cable or con.

ductor is threaded through and upwardly through thev outlet guide. rThe outlet may be conveniently closed when not in use by removing the outlet vfixture and securing a covery plate -to the anchor member. e

An improved collapsible form embodying the features of the present invention comprises a pair of oppositely disposed hollow metallic members and a shaped hollow member positioned therebetween, the latter being provided with a depressed handle to facilitate its removal. The lower end portions of these-members are designed to extend into thefpassageway and are grooved so as to straddle -or surround any cables or conductors which may have been previously introduced in the passageway.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent: from the -following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- 1n Fig. l is a fragmentary planview illus trating one type of a concrete floor' construction wherein the present invention may b e advantageously employed;

Fig. 2 is an `enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line Q-Qof Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a perspective view of the improved collapsible form with the individual sections shown separated from each other in 'order to more clearly illustrate their construction;

. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section. taken -on vthe same. line as i. Fig. 3 showing a portion of the concrete slabv removed -and the collapsible form together with the anchor plate located 'in place preparatory to the forming of an outlet;

5 is aplan view-ofthe positioneol,

the passageway cooperating wedgeg5 of. unlined pass Ay portion collapsible form and anchor plate, as shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a completely formed outlet with an outlet ixture associated therewith for uiding a cable threaded therethrough from t e horizontal passageway;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical section takenvon linev 8-8 of Fig. 7, and l 9 is a fragmentary vertical isection similar to Fig? showing a covering plate secured in position to seal an outlet when its use is no longer required. i

Referring now to like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the `several views, it will be observed that Fig. 1 discloses a upper layer of wooden blocks 2O resting u n a concrete slab 21. Along the margms of the floor are terminal trenches 22 and` extending throughthe concrete slab at an angle of `sul'istan'tially forty-five degrees with respect to the trenches are a plurality ways 24 which are arranged in aralle ism and terminate in the trenches. Y hese passageways 24 may be formed within the 'concrete slab 21 in any convenient manner, such for example, as by molding by means of removable forms at the time the floor slab is laid'. A plurality of machines, desks or other apparatus denoted -by the referencenumerals 25, 26, 27 and 28y are indicated diagrammaticall by rectangles in Fig. v `1 Y and positions in proximity to each of these machines is an outlet fixture 30 each of which is associated with a passageway 24. Armored cables of conductors 31, 32, 33 and 34 for serving the machines 25, 26, 27 and 28, respectively, are threaded through the horizontal assageways 24 and upwardly through t e associated outlet Yfixtures 30..- These cables terminate in suitable switch boxes v35 mounted within the trenches 22. v

It is to be understood that the resent invention is not limited to the s i c Afloor construction herein illustrate and describedbut may be employed to advantage n in providing outlets for associating various types of outlet fixtures with previously constructed ducts or passageways 4of various forms.I 1

lIn order to associate an outlet' fixture 30 formed passageway 24, to remove severallof the itis first necessa o 20, as shown in Fig. 5.

wooden loor bloc passageway is'then broken away to present an opening 'of'suiiicient size to permit the insertion of a collapsible moldi form. A molding' form embodying the eatures of the present invention comprises a pair of oppositely4 d' osed, hollow, aluminum castings 36 and 3 and an intermediate wedgethe, drawings wherein floor construction comprising anv of the concrete slab 21 aboveithe shaped, hollow aluminum castin 38 (Fig. 4). A rib-like portion 39 exten 'ng across the upper ortion of the wedge-shaped section 38 witA its upper surface flush with the upper ed of the wedge section serves as a handle@ or facilitating tkiefemoyal of the form after-the outlet has been molded.v The lower portions of the sections 36, 37 and 38 are cylindrical in shape to conformwith the4 cylindrical 'qrosafsection of` the ,passageways 24 and are'grooved as indicated at'40 (Fi 4 and 5) for-a purpose which will presensy be described.

It may be desired, for example, to install a machine, desk or apparatus inthe position indicated inV Fig. 1 by the rectangle 42 and in order to conveniently serve suc apparatus it may be necessary to provide an outlet for associating an outlet fixture with the nearest passageway 24 at the position indicated by the dotted outline 41. By referring` y to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that this passageway 24 already contains a cable 34 previously introduced therein for the purpose of serving the apparatus or desk 2B. Thus the problem is presented of providing an outlet for a passay containing a previously installed cale. This is aaccom" plished in a very rsimple and economcalf f manner by employing the improved molding form which, as hereinbefore described, is rovided withzthe groove 40 for surround-l ing the cable 34 as clearlyshownin Figli n introducing the collapsible mol form into a. assageway 24, after several o the wooden oor blocks 20 and a portion of the concrete slab 21 have been removed, they sections 36 and 37 Aof the form areV lowered into positionand then .the central,"A i wedge-shaped section 38 is introduced there"` between. An ,anchor plate 43 and a filler"` member 44 are clampe to the underside of" a pair of positioning stri .45by'means o'if screws 46. These .assemb edf arts are then lowered into position over :s collapsible form until thestripsla. reet-.xi nthe u` per surface of the concrete slab 2 It wiilbe: apparent that the strips together with the spacing or filler member 44 serve to position 4 the anchor plate 43 a predetermined dis` m tance below the surface of the slab 21'.' After the anchor plate `has .been thus positioned, a clamping bolt 48 is threadedA through rin 'apertures 49 provid@ in the individual sections of the form firmly secure them in a fixed position. .Cnn-t crete or cement is then poured around the' anchor plate 43 and filler member 44 so air`I to complete fill allremaini spam'isrlii"N (Figa 5)". theA concrete assetfth 18 coll-a le form is removed lay-.first with drawing the bolt 48 and then lifting the depressed the central section 38, the

37 may be conveniently removed and by withdrawing the screws 46, the positioning strips and the filler member 44 may also be removed. yAn outlet fixture 30 may now be secured to the anchor plate 43 which is provided with a plurality of angularly projecting flanges 52 by means of which it is rigidly embedded in the concrete.

The outlet fixture 30 (Figs. 7 and 8) comprises a tubular member 52 having an outwardly projecting Flange 5.3 formed at the lower end thereof. The flange 53 is provided with suitable apertures for accommodating screws or bolts 54 by means of which the fixture is rigidly secured to the anchor plate 43. Before securing the outlet fixture to the anchor plate, a cable 55 is threaded through the passageway 24, upwardly through the molded outlet, and through the tubular portion 52 of the fixture. A sealing gasket 56 is interposed between the anchor plate 43 and the flange 53, thus precluding the possibility of any leal age of moisture from the floor surface into the passageway 24. An extension pipe 58 may be threaded to the upper end of the outlet fixture and this pipe may be of any desired length depending upon the distance through which the cable must be extended.

As clearly shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the upper surface of the flange 53 of the outlet :fixture is flush with the surface of the concrete slab 21. Thus, after the outlet fixture has been properly secured in position, the fioor blocks 20 previously removed for the purpose of molding the outlet may be conveniently replaced. The space immediately surrounding the outlet fixture may be filled with pitch 60 or other suitable packing material.

ln the event that it is desired to discontinue the use of any of the outlet fixtures, a'few of the floor blocks 20 surrounding the fixture are removed whereupon the fixture may readily be disassembled from its companion anchoring plate 43 by removing the screws 54. These same screws may be em- Y ployed to secure a cover plate 61 to the anchor plate 43, as shown in Fig. 9. The

Vupper surface of the cover plate 61 is flush with the surface of the concrete slab 2l, thus permitting the convenient replacement of the floor blocks 20.

From the foregoing it will be understood that this invention enables the expeditious molding of an outlet for an unlined passageway, as distinguished from the introduction of a fitting to be connected with or threaded upon an embedded tube or duct, and that the invention is particularly applicable in connection with the formation of outlets for associating outlet fixtures with a duct or passageway containing a previously installed cable. i

Although the invention has been illustrated and described in connection with a particular type of floor construction, it should be understood that the invention is capable of numerous other applications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is l. ln an apparatus for molding an outlet in a building slab having a distributive passageway, a molding form designed to be inserted within the passageway and having a longitudinal groove on the underside thereof.

2. ln an apparatus for molding an outlet in a building slab having a distributive passageway containing a previously installed cable, a metallic molding form designed to be inserted within the passageway and having a longitudinal groove on the underside thereof for enclosing a portion of the cable, and a depressed handle for facilitating the handling of the form.

3. In an apparatus for molding an outlet in a building slab having a distributive passageway, a collapsible molding form comprising a pair of oppositely disposed members and a central wedge-shaped member, the lower portions of said members being designed to extend into the passageway and provided with registering longitudinal grooves for enclosing a portion of' a cable contained within the passageway.

4. A collapsible form for molding an outlet for a distributive passageway molded within a building slab, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed members and a central wedge-shaped member, said members being provided with registering longitudinal grooves for enclosing a portion of a cable contained within the passageway.

5. A collapsible form for molding an outlet for a distributive passageway molded within a building slab, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed hollow metallic members and a central wedge-shaped hollow metallic member having a depressed handle for facilitating the removal of the form, the lower portions of said members being designed to extend into the passageway and having registering longitudinal grooves for enclosing a portion of a cable contained within the passageway.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of April, A. D.,

WILLIAM JOHN COOK. 

